Machine for filling cans



p 19,1944. v H. D. MARS $358,680

MACHINE FOR FILLING CANS Original Filed Jan. 4, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 19, 1944. H. D. AYARS MACHINE FOR FILLING CANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 4, 1943 Patented Sept. 19, 1944 STATES PATENT ,eF-mc-E Barry D. Ayars, Philadelphia, Pa.', assignor to Continental Gan Company, .Inc., New N. Y., a corporation of New York York, Y

Original application January'4, 1943, Serial No. 471,272. Divided and this application Decemberf30,"1'943, -Seria;l"-No. 516,280

3 Claims.

In my co-pending application Serial 'No. 471,272, filed January 4, 1943, there is shown and described almachine forfilling cans which emf bodies a tank 'whichis rotated, and associated with the tank are measuring jpockets which are filled 'by the tank, and which discharge a measured quantity of liquid product into a'container. Disposed in the tankis a control plate'for covering the openings leading to the measuring come partments. .The present application is a division of the application referred to, and is directed particularly to the control plate and the manner of mounting the same, which controls the fiow of the liquid product from the tank into the measuring pockets.

An object of the invention is to provide 2. Supporting means for the control plate which permits said plate to freely rest on the bottom of the tank, but is held from rotation with the tank. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a supporting means for the control plate so that it may be readily removed for cleaning purposes and replaced, without the necessity of releasing any securing means therefor.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in vertical section showing a portion of a filling machine embodying my improvement.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the control plate and the bottom of the tank showing the relation of the control plate to the openings leading to the measuring pockets.

The can filling machine to which the improvement has been applied includes a center supporting column I, which may be of any suitable construction. This column is mounted on a base 2. Mounted on this column is a sleeve 3 to which is attached a tank 4. Secured to the tank and depending therefrom are a series of measuring units, one of which is shown in section in Figure 1. The measuring unit includes an upper section 5 and a lower section 6. These two sections have a telescoping connection and a suitable sealing gland 1 provides a liquid tight connection between the two sections. Extend- No. 471,272, and further description thereo'f'is not thought necessary. v

Mounted on the base 2 is a can support 12 alongwhi-c'h the cans to' be filled are. moved.

The can is shown in broken lines at C, in Figure These spider arms project radially from the center of the tank. They are secured to a sleeve M mounted at the upper end of the stationary column I. These arms do not contact with the bottom of the tank. At the outer end of each arm is an upstanding pin IS the upper end of which is tapered, as indicated at IS. The bottom of the tank is provided with a plurality of openings I1. These openings are covered during a portion of the rotation of thetank by a control plate l8. This control plate is arcuate and is provided with laterally projecting lugs 19 which engage over the pins I5. The plate rests on the bottom of the tank and the pins prevent ing laterally from the colunm l is a spider bracket 8. The lower' section of the measuring pocket is bolted to this spiderbracket 8. Secured to the lower end of the telescoping section 6 is a valve housing 9 having discharge ports l0 which are controlled by the rotary valve II. This valve mechanism is shown, described and claimed in my cQ-Jpending application Serial the plate from rotating with the tank. In the bottom of the plate is an arcuate channel 20 which, as'shown in broken lines in Fig. 2, terminates short of the end of the plate. v

There is a pipe 2| secured to the plate which extends upwardly therefrom. This pipe is connected to the channel. The pipe extends above the normal level of the liquid product in the tank and serves as a venting means for the emptying of the measuring pockets.

As noted above, this cutoff plate extends only through a segment of the arc of a circle of the filling machine. When the openings I! move out from underneath the plate, then the liquid product in the tank will fill the measuring pocket. At this time the valve is closed. After the pocket is filled, then the opening leading to the tank passes beneath the plate and this will cover the opening. When the opening reaches the channel in the under face of the plate then the pocket is connected through the pipe 2| to the atmosphere so that when the valve is open, the liquid product in the measuring pocket will pass freely into the receptacle therebeneath. The plate rests on the bottom of the tank and is held pressed against the bottom by gravity. Under these conditions, a film of the filling product will form beneath the plate and this facilitates the movement of the tank relative to the plate which is stationary, and

at the same timea perfect seal is maintained between the tank and the measuring pocket, at the time of emptying of the pockets.

When it is desired to clean the machine the control plate can be readily lifted from the tank as it is only attached to the spider arms l3 by the projection of the pins through the openings in the lugs carried by said control plate. The plate is lifted off the pins and removed from the tank and after cleaning, it can be placed back in the tank and the lugs will slip freely over the pins.

2,368,680 r, q pocket associated with each opening, a valve mechanism at the lower end of each pocket for controlling the discharge of the contents of the pocket, a segmental cutofi plate disposed in said tank so as to cover a portion of the openings leading to the measuring pockets, and means for preventing the cutoff plate from rotating with the tank while permitting said cutofi plate to move freely vertically, said cutoff plate having an arcuate recess in the under face thereof terminating short of the ends of the plate anda venting pipe It is obvious that many changes may be made i the appended claims. 7

I claim: 1. In a filling machine, a rotatable tank having a plurality of discharge openings arranged concentrically of the center of the tank, a measuring pocket associated with each opening,. a valve mechanism at the lower end of each pocket for controlling the discharge of the contents of the pocket, a segmental cutoff plate disposed in said tank so as to cover a portion of the openings leading to the measuring pockets, and means for preventing the cutofi plate from rotating with the tank while permitting said cutoff plate to move freely-vertically.

:2. In a filling machine, a rotatable tank having a plurality of discharge openings arranged conpentrically of the center of the tank, a measuring in the details of construction of this supporting 1 means for the control plate without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in carried by said cutofi plate and connected to said recess, said venting pipe extending upwardly :above the surface of the liquid product in the tank.

3. In a filling machine, a rotatable tank having i a'plurality of discharge openings arranged concentrically of the center of the tank, a measuring pocket associated with each opening, a valve mechanism at the lower end of each pocket for controlling the discharge of the contents of the 

